General Studies offers a wide variety of personalized degree options to students. They may individually tailor their programs to combine a substantial core of courses basic to a traditional university education and study in career-related areas. Within the flexible framework of degree requirements, students may design an undergraduate program that can more readily meet their career and personal-development goals. Students will be encouraged and assisted in developing a unique academic program complementing their individual interests, abilities, and intellectual and practical concerns.

The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) includes courses in broad categories called required areas of learning (listed below) and elective credit that students may earn in any Purdue University Fort Wayne program. The required areas of learning provide broad exposure to the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, while the electives permit students to explore areas of interest, receive credit for prior university-level experiential learning, and tailor the degree to their individual needs. In each plan of study, students must demonstrate competency in each of the following areas: written communication (two courses), oral communication, mathematics, computer literacy, and a diversity course. After students are admitted to a general studies degree program, students will develop a plan of study to meet their objectives. An advisor will provide assistance in this effort.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this degree, students will:

Speak and write precisely, clearly, and persuasively.

Formulate arguments in a variety of contexts.

Assess their own arguments and compare and evaluate them with the arguments of others.

Understand the nature and diversity of individuals, organizations, cultures, and societies.

Demonstrate understanding of scholarly approaches to such abiding questions as the meaning of life, the role of the arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and sciences and mathematics in understanding what being human means, and the limits of knowledge.

Apply their knowledge in written, oral communication, or technical competencies.

Gather, evaluate, select, organize, and synthesize material in order to complete a research or creative project.

Apply the knowledge gained across interdisciplinary boundaries

Program Delivery:

Students may take advantage of the wide variety of daytime, evening, weekend, hybrid, and online courses at Purdue Fort Wayne. Students may also earn credit by examination, and in some cases earn credit for significant, documentable self-acquired competencies when the learning outcomes have been comparable to those of university-level work. See an advisor for more information. Consideration is given to all previously earned college credit from other accredited institutions. The Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) program may also be tailored to the needs of those unable to study on campus during regularly scheduled periods and may be completed online.

Admission to the Program:

To be admitted to the B.G.S. program, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of a 2.00 or higher. For questions, contact the Director of General Studies.

Area C: Social & Behavioral Sciences (Credits 12)

Grade of C- or above is required. Must include at least two different subjects.

Choose four courses in the following Social & Behavioral Sciences area:

Anthropology

Communication Sciences & Disorders

Economics

Geography

Gerontology

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender

Linguistics

Peace & Conflict Studies

Political Science

PPOL 10100 (ONLY)

Psychology

Sociology

Women’s Studies

Area D: Choose ONE Area of Learning (Credits 18)

Choose ONE Area of Learning (Area A, B or C) and complete 18 additional credits from that area. Grade of C- or above is required. Must include at least two different subjects from the selected Area of Learning.

- 30 credit limit in each of the following professional school/college disciplines: BUS, DAST*/DHYG*/DLTP*, EDU/EDUA*/EDUC*, HPER (only 1 course allowed in an athletes participating sport), HSRV, IDIS, INTD, LSTU, MSL/MIL, MUSC (if used as a professional school, which only counts as electives with only 10 credits in any MUSC 0xxxx classes), NUR, OLS (unless paired with other classes/subjects within the School of Engineering Technology and Computer Science; see below), PHRM, PPOL/SPEA*, RADX, VM.

- 30 credit limit in each of the following professional school areas, but only 21 credits in each subject within the school/college:

Engineering Technology and Computer Science (30 total; 21 allowed in each, except OLS): ARET , CE, CET, CEPT, CNET, ECET, ECE, ENGR, ET, IET, IT, IM, ITC, ME, MET, SE, TECH, and up to 30 in OLS unless paired with any of the above for a total of 30 within the college/school

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. All requests for exceptions/waivers to any requirement must be petitioned in writing and approved by the appropriate Dean or Director of the General Studies program.